Wynne & Wynne

After a recent successful day in the studio shooting pictures for local hairdressers 'Wynne and Wynne', http://www.wynneandwynne.co/, with my daughter Rosemary, our work was published in the 'GSY Life' magazine. It had five double page spreads, and included the set - up and preparation for the event.   

Go out and find yourselves a copy of this nice glossy magazine to see the reproductions in full.  I have posted a few images below.

As normal most of the work is in the preparations.  All the hairdressers and models had great fun while they worked to produce some amazing styles.

James Harrison filmed the day, producing a very dynamic video that is great to watch.

As soon as the models were ready we started photographing them in a variety of poses.  The idea was to show off Wynne & Wynne's work in an exciting way.

 The day was long and hard work, but it was great to have the opportunity to photograph this event, thank you Tammi.

Also thanks to my eldest daughter Rosemary for assisting and taking some great pictures herself.
https://rosemarydespres.wordpress.com/ for more of her work.

     

Natalie & Guy

Natalie & Guy had a great day, getting married at St. Stephen's Church with their reception at La Grande Mare.  As I type this with the rain pouring down outside, it seems odd to be working on their pictures when their day was blessed with no wind and beautiful sunshine.

The bride and bridesmaids had a very early start to the day at the hairdressers, but with a midday ceremony, time was always going to be tight.

 Though once they were back at mum's, it wasn't long before everyone was fully ready at quite impressive speed!

 Guy and his groomsmen had a lot less to do, even managing to fit in a drink at the Rocquettes before the ceremony.

Natalie arrived precisely at 12 o'clock.

 This was my second wedding in recent weeks at St. Stephen's Church.  Again, Father Moore treated us to a lovely ceremony.

 The car looked so good, that Guy couldn't resist getting in the driver's seat!

 Once the correct chauffeur was in place, the couple made their way to the reception via a quick stop for pictures.

 Everything was beautifully laid out in the dining room.

 Speeches were great, with the best man in particular getting everyone laughing.

 We were even treated to a very personal and humorous song, before a couple of brave young people also said a few words.  This was much appreciated.

The couple had mentioned previously that they were going to have around 100 extra guests arriving for the reception. They were not exaggerating! Natalie and Guy were obviously a very popular couple, with the extra guests adding to the vibrant atmosphere on the packed dance floor.

 The good weather continued right throughout the day, with the evening being calm enough for people to enjoy time relaxing outside between songs.

 I wanted to share these last couple of pictures that I am especially pleased with. We snuck away from the dance floor to take some pictures after dusk. It was lovely to take a moment away from the frenzied dancing to enjoy the stillness outdoors, with a beautiful mist forming over the water..

Shanti & Tim

Shanti & Tim had such a sweet and relaxed wedding, with the ceremony at St. Stephen's Church and the reception held in the grounds of Sausmarez Manor.

 There was a great bond between the bride and her bridesmaids.

 Baby Rollo was absolutely delightful throughout the day.

 The groomsmen enjoyed a lunch at The Boathouse before making their way to the church.

 Shanti travelled to the church in a stunning car.

Shanti's son, Alfie, walked her down the aisle- a moment I'm sure he was very proud of.

 This was my first wedding at St. Stephen's Church since its refurbishment, and also my first there with Father Moore.  The interior of the church was certainly in pristine condition and made for a lovely backdrop for the touching ceremony.

Sausmarez Manor had a lively, garden party atmosphere for the guests to enjoy, along with plenty of sunshine.

 The marquee that had been set up looked amazing. The interior was decorated with vibrant flowers and the outside of the marquee looked just as beautiful.

 The quiet warm weather was ideal, as the speeches unusually took place outside the Manor.

 The speeches were entertaining, with the best woman's speech being particularly memorable. The lobster theme was certainly unique, with hilarious attention to detail as Tim ended up with a lobster claw to wear!

 The setting of the reception made a beautiful scene as night fell.

 Inside the marquee it seemed like no one wanted the day to end, with some frantic barn dancing finishing off what was a very special day for Shanti and Tim.

Renée & Nick

Renée & Nick had a wonderful day for their wedding.  Sunny and warm, but not too hot like the last few days!

Hair and make-up were done at home which made for a relaxing start.

 Renée looked quite amazing.

 My daughter Rosemary took these images below while I was photographing some portraits of the bride.

 Dad's expression says it all.

 Meanwhile, Nick and his groomsmen had time for a quick drink at the Deerhound before the short walk to the Forest Church.

 The ring did go on, eventually!

 A brisk breeze made it tricky to take pictures with Renée's hair and veil needing a bit of attention.  But the scenery was beautiful.

 Then we made our way to La Grande Mare for the reception.  Everyone enjoyed the nice weather out on the lawn prior to moving indoors.

 The dining room was laid out to great effect.

 I was really pleased with what I managed to come up with when I photographed the rings.  Nick had designed his own ring and a friend and guest at the wedding had made the rings (from Rocks, Le Pollet). This was a lovely personal touch for the couple.

 Speeches took the traditional slot after the meal and were good entertainment.

 Dancing was split between the normal dance floor with Q-Sky as DJs, and a couple of friends singing and playing guitars in the conservatory.

 We sneaked off for a few pictures in the evening, getting some beautiful images as night fell.  One example is below.

 There was some lively dancing, which was a fun end to a great day for Renée and Nick.

Gemma & Christopher

Gemma & Christopher had a delightful wedding at St. Sampson's Church, followed by a reception at The Farmhouse.

There was quite a crowd getting ready at Gemma's parents' house, with six bridesmaids and two flower girls.

 Everyone was amazed how gorgeous Gemma looked.

 Gemma waved goodbye as the bridesmaids departed for the church.

 A bit of a breeze gave a few moments of drama with the veil.

 This was my first wedding with the new rector of St. Sampson's, Rev. Timothy Dack.  We were treated to a beautiful and emotional ceremony.

 Christopher and his family had travelled all the way from the United States, for a wedding in Guernsey's oldest parish church.
 
 St. Sampson's Church has a distinctive charm.

 The weather was lovely and encouraged people to enjoy the garden and terrace at the reception.  The dining room was laid out in a very effective way, with lots of pretty details.

 We were treated to some great speeches, with Gemma herself also speaking.

 With people enjoying the evening sunshine outside on the terrace, the first dance took place a little later than planned.

 Paradiso played some excellent music and this kept the dance floor busy.

 James, one of Gemma's brothers, normally plays bass with Paradiso, he guested when the band started their second set.

 Wishing Gemma & Christopher all the best with their life in the United States.

Katie & Arrian - Vale Castle

Another remarkable wedding - Katie & Arrian had what can only be described as an action packed day!

It started with the groomsmen and some other guests playing football.  Now when I was asked to cover this I wasn't really prepared for what was going to happen - this match was not some little kick around - this was SERIOUS!  Just check out the action below:-

 Oh the score?  Guernsey 2 - Rest of World 1.

The bride and bridesmaids were having a much more sedate start to their day.

When faced with a difficult room to photograph the dress in, I tried to come up with something a little different and was pleased with the picture below.

 St. Matthew's Church was where the ceremony took place with Rev. Jan Le Billon.  The last wedding we covered with Rev. Jan was a very emotional affair, this wedding was no exception.

 We had a great deal of laughter, tears and even some dancing to the music while the register signing took place.  A quite beautiful event which really left its mark on those present.

 The weather cleared up to give us blue skies and gentle winds.

 Bordeaux Harbour is an area dear to the couple, so this was a natural stop for some pictures.  Then it was just a short hop to Vale Castle for the reception.  Guernsey has some fascinating ancient monuments and Vale Castle is one of my favourite locations, to have a wedding there was very exciting.

 This wedding was also my first time with the Tipi, (contact Bonita at www.simplytipi.com), a bit different to the normal marquee.

 Set within the castle it looked spectacular, especially the interior.

 Speeches can be simply described as hilarious!

 The atmosphere inside the tent took on a further dimension in the evening.  Once the first dance was over, the dance floor was so packed it was tricky to actually photograph what was happening.

 A quite unique setting, which looked wonderful under the moonlit sky.  Tranquil on the outside, but inside the activity was frenzied right up to the last dance.  A wonderful day, just what Katie & Arrian had planned.

Nicki & Shaun

I was looking forward to this wedding for a long time.  We had worked together for over a year prior to Nicki & Shaun's wedding photographing an engagement book, so we got to know each other pretty well by June this year.

By the time we got back from the hairdresser time was getting a little tight for everything else.

 We just had time for a few portraits of the stunning bride before everyone got into the cars to make their way to Sausmarez Manor for the ceremony.

 Couldn't resist this shot of Steve from Executive Cars, a good story can be told in a single image.

 At the Manor the best man was keeping the groom's nerves at bay.

 A reassuring arm when it's needed most!

 The bride's father drove her to Sausmarez Manor in his Aston Martin, the traffic through St. Martin's was a little stressful, but we all arrived only a few minutes late.  The car looked great in front of the Manor.

 Difficult light, but loads of atmosphere.

 Lots of hugs and handshakes after the ceremony.

 While I photographed the family group pictures, Dave Lowe waited nearby for a "surprise" carriage ride for the newly weds to be taken to The Venue for the reception.

 A nice bit of quiet time for Nicki & Shaun before they re-joined all their guests at The Venue.

 We were all well entertained with the speeches.

 But what we were all waiting for of course was THE DANCE!  Nicki & Shaun had been training for this for towards two years, under the watchful tuition of Andy & Lisa of Two Left Feet.  I had even attended a couple of practice sessions too.  We moved downstairs and it all went amazingly well, a beautiful moment that everyone enjoyed.  The emotions were very evident at the end!

 The rest of the dancing was back upstairs.

 Another beautiful wedding day, congratulations to Nicki & Shaun.

Ann & Jeff

This was a really sweet wedding.

Ann & Jeff got married at the Shiloh Church where it was great to meet up again with Phil Baskerville, previously the rector of St. Sampsons.

 Ann's excitement was plain to see as her bridesmaids departed for the church.

 Jeff was in great spirits as he greeted people arriving at the church.

 Ann and her bridesmaids went upstairs at the back of the church, so they descended from the gallery into the packed church.  A wonderful entrance.

 After the ceremony everyone gathered outside for a while, one of the best attended ceremonies I have seen, with barely a spare seat in the church.

 The newly wed couple went straight to the Hotel de Havelet for the reception.  I hadn't seen this hotel since its recent renovation, I was very impressed.

 A very informal and relaxed reception followed, just what the couple wanted.

Zoe & Steve

It was especially pleasing to cover Zoe & Steve's wedding.  I have known Steve from a long time ago and over the last few years have seen them at quite  a few of their friends' weddings.

The day dawned with a beautifully quiet and misty sunrise.  Yes, I was actually up and about at 5am.  I was wide awake and the light was too nice to ignore.  But those pictures are not the reason for this blog.

Zoe had one of the broadest smiles of any bride I have seen, this didn't falter at all throughout the day.

 Everyone was really excited to see her.

 Dad and bride had time to have a few moments together as they waited to be taken to the church.

 Steve may have been showing a few nerves at times, but all the groomsmen had a good laugh getting ready.

 This bride was not going to be late.

 Rev. Kerle conducted a lovely ceremony, with plenty of emotion and laughter.

 The newly weds had a long walk through the confetti outside the church.

 Candie Gardens may have just had the flower beds cleaned up the day before, but it was still a beautiful place for us to stop by for a few pictures on the way to the Old Government House Hotel for the reception.

 There was plenty of time for people to enjoy some time outside,

 Nowhere to hide for Steve during the best man's speech!

 The first dance looked great on the shiny new floor.

 Moulin Rouge next for this lot!

 Thick fog descended after dusk, giving us some interesting light for pictures in the gardens.

 What a wonderful day for Zoe & Steve.

Yuan & Ashley

Yuan & Ashley were a delightful couple who had officially got married in China.  However we photographed them in Guernsey with a few friends and family.

We managed to fit in a few different scenes in Guernsey to give a lovely reminder of our beautiful island.

It was a touch early for the bulk of the bluebells, but with the kind permission of a nearby landowner we had the opportunity to take some pictures in a stunning field of daffodils.

Yuan & Ashley had a great sense of fun about them.





It wasn't the warmest weather, but a few pictures at sunset were well worth it and finished off a busy day.

The very best for your future together Yuan & Ashley.

A few pictures were taken by my eldest daughter Rosemary, including the last one above.

Helen & Matthew

This was a lovely wedding that we covered in early March.  We only covered the ceremony, but it was surprising what can be obtained in a short space of time.

Heavy rain made people hurry for the shelter of St. James.

But Chris Taylor played appropriate music as the bride arrived…


The sun duly did come out!

A very proud dad and a beaming bride.

The weather had changed for the better and Helen & Matt departed after lots of congratulations and some family group photographs.


One of my favourite pictures, I spotted their hands together through a clearer part of the reflections in the glass as the car started to leave.  I had to work fast to get the correct exposure and focus, but the result is an off beat image that still tells a powerful story.

Royal Photographic Society - Guernsey Distinctions Advisory Day

I didn't realise that such a gap had elapsed since my last blog post, so apologies to anyone out there who has been keenly waiting to read this!

I proudly serve on one of the Royal Photographic distinctions panels, this is quite an honour.  It involves actual assessment days where a panel of suitably qualified photographers awards distinctions to work that meets the high standards needed.  We also take part in workshops and advisory days.

At the end of February we actually ran an advisory day here in Guernsey.  These days are to help people prepare their work for submission for an assessment at a future date.

We had a very well attended event, well organised by the RPS Southern Region.  People had travelled from the UK and Jersey to take part.  Two other Fellows of the Society, Steven Le Prevost from Guernsey, and Roy Robertson from Scotland, joined me,  to make up the team that gave advice to the participants.

Here are a couple of pictures, courtesy of Dave Peckham, that show us in action.



I'm the one in the centre, in listening mode!



We got some great feedback from those who attended, another bonus was we saw some exciting work. Best of luck to those who apply for their distinctions in due course.

Just over a week later I was at the RPS headquarters in Bath, where we had a 2 day distinctions meeting.  Hard work, but very rewarding too.

Alex & Jon - Stocks Hotel in Sark

Sark is always one of my absolute favourite places to visit.  What better reason too than for a wedding.

Alex and Jon got married at Stocks Hotel, a relaxing day with no chasing around.  They both got ready at the hotel, with the ceremony held outside in front of the hotel.

We had some gorgeous weather too, warm, sunny and little wind.  Ideal for the outdoor ceremony.

Dad looked quite amazed how gorgeous his daughter looked.

Meanwhile the groomsmen got ready just across the courtyard.

It was just a short walk around the corner to the ceremony.

Another proud moment for Alex's father as he walked her up the aisle.

With the very efficient assistance of David, the toastmaster, we had the guests arranged in a heart shape very quickly.

There was plenty of time to relax in the sun and have a laugh before the call to dinner.

The dining room was beautifully decorated, with some lovely touches.

Speeches were after the meal and provided good entertainment.

As dusk approached it was time for the dancing.  Everyone had great fun until well after midnight.

Stocks took a lot of pride in decorating the couple's room,  with some very tempting chocolates and even swans made out of towels!  I was asked to pop up and photograph it.

Alex and Jon, you had a fantastic day in a stunning location.  It was a shame to leave Sark the next day.

Natalie & Thomas

Natalie & Thomas were married at St. Peter's Church, with the reception at The Farmhouse Hotel.
It was convenient for Natalie in the morning as she got ready at the Farmhouse.  The room had some atmospheric light and everyone was in great spirits.

 The groomsmen had a quick drink at the Longfrie next door to the church.

  An ironic sign as the groom walked to the church!

 A last minute adjustment as Natalie arrived at the church.

 Reverend Charmley conducted a touching and beautiful ceremony.

 The newly weds had a mass of enthusiastically thrown confetti to walk through as they made their way to the gate.

 

 It was a windy day, so we sought out a sheltered location on the way to the reception for some pictures.

 A lot of effort had gone into decorating the Farmhouse dining room.

 Some active dancing saw out the night.

 I was excited to try something incorporating the canopy of lights over the dance floor, this beautiful image was the result.  A good way to sign off this blog.

Vicky & Luke

Thank you for your patience if you have been awaiting this blog for a while, still catching up from a rather busy summer.  But I am sure you will agree the wait has been worthwhile.

Vicky and Luke had a great day.  We started early at the hairdressers, where the girls spent a while getting their hair done and having a bit of fun too.

 Nathan Richards was justifiably rather proud of his work on Vicky's hair, it looked amazing, and stayed that way all through to the end of the night.

 I have to own up, my daughter Rosemary was responsible for this beautiful portrait below.

 Dad's reaction on seeing Vicky was priceless.

 Meanwhile my wife Karen was photographing the groomsmen.  Luke was displaying an odd caption on his shirt for his wedding day!

 Now we have had all sorts of people for best men, ranging from friends, brothers, fathers etc.  Even weddings with two or even three best men.  But this one was unique for me, Summer was the first best woman I have encountered, and a great job she did too.

Summer's mug read "The best man for the job is a woman".  As the father of three daughters, I cannot argue with that!

 The ceremony was conducted by Jane White, at St. Martin's Parish Hall. 

 After the lovely ceremony, we popped by to see Vicky's gran.

 As the reception was at The Duke of Richmond Hotel, it was convenient to take a few pictures at Candie Gardens.

 The hotel dining room looked quite special, with some beautiful details.

Vicky's sister, Emma, was not just a bridesmaid, she also put her skills to stunning effect by making the cake too.  If you like what you see please contact her at Creative Cakes.  I know you have been keen to see the pictures Emma, so here's not one , but two images for you!

 This image of the  couple's entrance into the dining room really tells a story.

 Speeches were before the meal, everyone was kept well entertained.

 Summer excelled with her hilarious presentation.

 There are not many cakes you have to reach up to cut.

 After the first dance, things stepped up in pace.  The band was The Datcha Collective, their lively performance kept the floor heaving all night.

 They certainly worked hard...

 Some strange dance moves were displayed...

 We even made use of the rain for a couple of pictures outside. 

 Hope you all enjoy this preview.

Barney & Imogen at The Royal Yacht, Jersey

Barney & Imogen had planned a very special event.  All guests travelled to Jersey for the wedding.
They both got ready in adjacent suites at The Royal Yacht Hotel, all very convenient for us to cover.

 On the balcony next door, the groomsmen were keen to show off their outfits!

 Just time for a quick practice!

 Imogen's granddad proudly walked her up the aisle.

 The hotel was not the original venue planned for the ceremony, this last minute change was ably handled by Judith from The Royal Yacht and it all worked out brilliantly.

After family group pictures outside the hotel, it was time to throw the bouquet.  This landed precisely at the flower girl's feet!

 I am sure the real reason we went elsewhere for some pictures, was so Barney could take Tom's lovely M3 for a spin!

 Back at The Royal Yacht, some fast work had taken place.  The Celestial Hall, where the ceremony had been held, was now set out in spectacular fashion for the wedding reception.

 Granddad led the speeches, the double act with the two best men also went down rather well.

 Before the dancing commenced we visited the pool, a good opportunity for some different pictures.  It was rather hot working there though.

 Once the dancing was underway, the floor was packed and remained so for the next few hours.  A very enthusiastic crowd taking full advantage of a brilliant performance by the band.  Sorry, can't remember the band's name, so if someone could please remind me I will give them a plug here, they fully deserve it.

 A spectacular event, quite fitting for this couple.

Kiara & Anton

Another memorable wedding with many beautiful moments throughout the day.  The wedding was held at St. Peter's Church and the reception was held at The Venue.

Kiara got ready at her parents' home and looked stunning.

 

 The groomsmen got suited up very early and had fun practising blowing bubbles, these were to be used instead of confetti after the ceremony.

The oars were an appropriate symbol linking best man and groom in this picture.

 Kiara and her father arrived at St. Peter's Church by horse and carriage,  Rev. Tracy Charmley  conducted a really touching ceremony.

 Your time has come...

 One of my favourite images for a long time.  It illustrates everything I love about documentary wedding photography, the joyous and playful expressions in particular.  The bubbles worked out really well, the light winds helped make this possible.

 The couple had a relaxing carriage ride around the lanes near the church before heading to The Venue for the reception.

 The room looked lovely, with a very original table plan.  Names were inside bowls of seawater dressed with seaweed, creating a realistic marine environment.

 Again the closeness of the people at this wedding was well illustrated by the best man's speech.  Seb and Anton had known each other for a very long time.

 A great sequence of Kiara ably performing the submariner's tradition of downing a glass of rum and catching the dolphin badge in her teeth.  This drew a lot of applause and appreciation.

Something doesn't look quite right in this picture!

  The fun continued for the rest of the day and night.  Wild but still good natured would aptly describe the scene.  Q-Sky provided the music and lights and kept the dance floor packed.

 An extra guest smuggled into the reception joined in too.

 A quite amazing day.

Rebecca & Antony

Becky & AJ's wedding was a delightful event.  It was characterised by one of the most emotional ceremonies I have photographed.

Becky got ready at home with her bridesmaids, all in good time.

AJ looked rather nervous.

 Becky's mum proudly walked her daughter up the aisle at St. Matthew's Church.

 Jan Le Billon conducted the ceremony.  It was a truly emotive experience; in particular the way Jan brought the couple's two daughters, Keira and Ellie, into the ceremony.

 Keira also sang beautifully during the signing of the register.

 On the way to the reception at The Farmhouse Hotel we stopped off for a few pictures.

 The dining room was really lovely, with some nice contrasting lighting put in place by Q-Sky, the DJs for the evening.

We had a few extra speeches; Ellie upstaged them all with a confidently recited poem she had written herself.  There were a few tears amongst the guests after that!

 As mentioned before Q-Sky put on some great lights and music for the dancing.

 This young man was certainly extremely athletic!

 Best wishes for your future together, it was a moving day from start to finish.

Alessia & Jonathan

I am often asked what happens if it rains on the wedding day.  Well, I always tell people not to worry and just enjoy their day with a big smile. 

Despite the really heavy rain throughout their day, Alessia & Jon did exactly that.  They had an incredible day and, even if I say so myself, we also got them some great pictures.

 With seven bridesmaids, it was a full house and a busy morning.  But all were ready on time.

 A brief gap in the rain even gave us the chance to grab a group shot outside.

 As I mentioned, just have a smile and enjoy the day.

 The wedding car was rather special, just as well it had all those coats of wax beforehand.

 Jayne White conducted a beautiful ceremony in a packed St. James.  We were treated to lovely music from the string quartet, as well as some beautiful singing from Casey-Joe and Chiara. 

 Alessia and Jon were still keen to stop off and have a few pictures taken on the way to the reception at La Grande Mare.

 Music featured strongly throughout the day, the string quartet moved to the reception and then a harpist played during the meal.

 Speeches went down well, there was nowhere to hide for the groom during the best man's speech!

 We had time to take a few pictures outside and then the dancing exploded into mad activity to the energetic Last of the Light Brigade.  The dance floor was so packed it was tricky to find room to take photographs.  If you want to get people up and dancing, this band know how to do it.

 As I mentioned before, music played a big part in the day.  Alessia joined in with the band on her violin, a brilliant performance that had massive applause.

 Her father, Bob, also showed off his talents, taking over the drums to an encircling crowd baying out Sir Bob, Sir Bob!

 A memorable day for sure, now who cares about the rain?!

 Just to add that my wife Karen often works with me at certain times of a wedding.  Now one of my daughters, Rosemary, has also started to accompany us on occasion.  This blog contains 7 of Rosemary's pictures.  I don't think anyone would be able to tell them apart from any of the others myself or Karen have taken, an exciting future talent.

Katy & Thomas

I got to know Katy and Thomas very well, as we had met a few times since March last year to photograph an engagement album that was used as a signing book at their wedding.  We had been looking forward to their big day a long time.

Katy and her two bridesmaids got ready at The Farmhouse where the reception was to be held later in the day.  They were in great spirits and got ready in plenty of time, which made things much more relaxing.

 Time we left for St. James...

 Don't want to give away my age, but I must admit I used to sometimes catch this bus to get home from school!  It was used to take some of the guests from the Farmhouse to St. James for the ceremony.

 Katy's mum had the honour of walking her daughter up the aisle.  Jayne White conducted a lovely ceremony.

 After the ceremony we had a brief stop for pictures before returning to the beautifully decorated Farmhouse.

 Shame they ran out of icing for the back of the cake!

 That lovely guest book proved popular.

 Katy's mum gave the first speech; it was very touching.

 The dancing kept people entertained long into the night.

Hope you are having a great time away Katy & Thomas.